VIII 



TRAVELS IN EASTERN AFRICA 



347 



coming. The grumbling noise ceased ; and encouraged 

 by this, I continued to throw stones in the same direc- 

 tion, occasionally giving vent to a low-toned but vigorous 

 shout. This game I continued until my arm was tired 

 and my voice hoarse. No further sound came to me. 

 At length I could distinguish the voices of my men, as 

 they clambered up the side of the crater. When they 

 had approached within hailing distance, I told them 

 of the presence of the lion ; and they at once began 

 to shout, and beat their water-bottles, which probably 

 had the desired effect, for we heard no more of his 

 feline majesty. 



My men reported that they had found about seventy 

 natives at the bottom of the crater, and that these, 

 upon discovering their presence, had evinced every 

 sign of terror; but upon learning who my men were, 

 had assured them that they were Embe and our 

 friends, and had presented my people with sugar- 

 cane and yams. 



It was nearly one o'clock in the morning before the 

 men who were suffering from thirst reached camp, and 

 their thirst was not quenched until the two had drunk 

 nine litres of this disagreeable water. They reached 

 camp with recovered senses, but worn out and very 

 feeble. NotwithstandinQ^ the fact that natives were 

 in the immediate neio^hbourhood, we were so fatis^ued 

 by the labours of the day that we went to sleep after 

 starting camp-fires, without so much as detailing a 

 single picket. 



The march was not resumed until late the follow- 

 ing day, in order to give the sufferers from thirst an 

 opportunity to recover fully. While we were waiting. 



